Skirt-supporter.



N. U. EDWARDS.

SKIRT SUPPORTEB. APPLICATION IILEI) JUNE 26, 1907.

901,327. Patented 001;. 20, 190s.

NORA O. EDWARDS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SKIRT-SUPPORTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1908.

Application filed June 26, 1907. Serial No. 380,971.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORA O. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Skirt-Supporters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in skirt-supporters, and the primary object of the invention is to produce a simple, durable, cheap, and effective device which will be capable of quick and easy attachment and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects are, to so construct the sup porter that it will prevent upward creeping of the waist-belt without the necessity of sewing the latter to the supporter and so that the belt cannot enter the longitudinal portions of the L-shaped openings which separate the retaining-arms from the body of the supporter.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features which I will now proceed to describe, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and which will be particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of the supporting-plate and a portion of the waist-belt, the inner face of the plate being shown. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device attached to a garment, the waist-belt being loosened to better illustrate the supporting-plate and the manner of securing the same to the garment. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of a garment showing the pocket attached thereto in which the retaining-arms of the supporter are adapted to enter. Fig. 4 is a View of a portion of a skirt having suspension-hooks attached to its hand which are adapted to hook over the upper edge of the supporting-plate. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the supporter attached to a waist and supporting a skirt. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section through the supporting-plate and waist-belt taken on line zz; Fig. 2; the belt being in its position of use.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, like numerals of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The reference numeral 7 designates a waist having an open ended pocket 8 which is sewed cross-wise on the waist at the rear thereof.

The skirt-supporter comprises a support ing-plate 9 and a waist-belt 10 to which said plate is attached. The supporting-plate is constructed of an oblong piece of flexible material, so that when in use it will conform to the curvature of the body. It is preferably made of metal and may be secured to the waist-belt in any practicable manner.

By preference, however, I provide the supporting-plate with a pair of vertically disposed slots 10 through which the belt is passed in returning fashion so that the supporting-plate is retained in proper position. Said plate is provided with two opposed inwardly directed retaining-arms 11 formed by longitudinal slots 12 that terminate at their inner ends in vertical notches 13, forming two substantially L-shaped openings between which is located a lip or guard 14 that acts as a guard against the crowding of the lower portion of the waist-belt into the longitudinal slots 12 and behind the retaining arms. This lip or guard also serves to strengthen the supporting-plate where most strength is needed, and by reason of its being stiff and integral with the body of the plate it acts to prevent turning of the plate; or in other words,-it serves to eliminate the tendency of the upper portion of the plate swinging outward under the weight of the skirt which the plate supports, as will presently appear. Formed on the body of the plate directly above the lip or guard 14 is a retaining-lip 15 which is stamped from said body and bulged out to permit the upper edge of the waist-belt to engage underneath it.

The retaining-arms are insertedv into the pocket 8 from opposite ends, and the waistbelt is then passed around the waist of the wearer and fastened at the front; one end of said belt having a buckle (not shown) through which the other end is passed and in which it is fastened. Any other means of fastening the ends of the belt may be em ployed. When the belt is secured around the waist, it prevents the ends of the retaining-arms bulging outward, and with the aid of the retaining-lip 15 and guard 14, assurance is had that the belt will always be in position to perform its intended functions.

Rising from the upper edge of the supporting-plate at each end is a lug 16, the purpose of which will presently appear.

17 designates a skirt, to the band 18 of which, suspension hooks 19 are secured. These hooks are preferably secured to the inner side of the skiitband and are adapted to be hooked over the upper edge of the supporting-plate 9; lugs 16 at opposite ends of said plate serve to prevent the hooks riding over the end of the plate, which would otherwise occur, such action being caused by the movement of the body.

As the weigh of the skirt is supported from the upper edge of the supporting-plate, there is a tendency to draw the upper portion of the plate outward, but owing to the extended bearing-surface provided by the lip or guard 14 which bears against the garment, such action is prevented.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

1. A skirt-supporter comprising a plate provided with a pair of opposed retaining arms having their free ends separated by a guard extending from the body of the plate.

2. A skirt-supporter comprising a plate provided with substantially L-shaped openings forming a pair of oppositely directed retaining-arms and a guard between the free ends of said arms, and a waist belt to which said plate is attached and which is adapted to lie over said guard and arms and encircle the waist of a person.

3. A skirt-supporter comprising a plate provided with a pair of opposed retaining arms and a guard between the free ends of said arms, and a waistbelt applied to said plate and adapted to encircle the waistof a person.

4. The combination with a waist provided with a pocket, of a plate providedwith a of opposed retaining-arms adaptedto pair a guard between the enter said pocket and free ends of said arms.

In testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NORA C. EDlVAR-DS. Witnesses:

ELLA G. PLUEOKI-IAI-IN, EMIL NEUHART. 

